The Importance of Vaccination

The Importance of Vaccination

When your child is very young, one of the most important scientific advancements that you can take advantage of is a forehead thermometer for babies(http://www.amazon.com/Infrared-Thermometer-Non-Contact-Forehead-Pediatric/dp/B015W3OX2U). These have come a long way, and can be a real life-saver for parents wondering if their kid has a fever. As your child gets older, you’ll want to take advantage of another modern scientific wonder: vaccinations.
Doctors recommend that parents bring their children in for vaccination shots at some point in their youth. Vaccines given are usually for measles, chickenpox, and tetanus. They’re designed to prevent a child from getting a life-threatening illness in the future, and to prevent such illnesses and diseases from spreading throughout the population. Records have shown that even ancient Chinese doctors administered vaccine shots for chickenpox and polio.
One of the common side effects of vaccinations is the possibility of a fever right after the vaccination shot. This is perfectly normal, but, after the vaccination shot, it’s a good idea to closely monitor your child’s body temperature by using an accurate forehead thermometer to give you the exact body temperature of your child. If the child has a fever, you may give them a dose of ibuprofen to treat the fever. However, vaccination shots should not cause high fever and should not last for more than 2 days. If this is the case, you may call the attention of the doctor right away, as it’s likely a symptom of a completely separate illness. Side effects of vaccination shots differ from one child to another, however, they’re almost never life-threatening.
On the Internet, you’ll find all sorts of articles claiming more serious side effects that can be caused by various vaccinations, from diabetes to autism. These, however, are almost all based on single, often later discredited studies and are countered by numerous scientific inquiries. No vetted scientific study has ever found a link between any vaccines given to children or adults and any serious disease or disorder. Vaccines not only protect the children they’re administered to, but they prevent the spread of disease and illness by making sure that enough of the population is inoculated. As any parent knows, schools can be like a petri dish for germs and common colds. Unfortunately, this same environment is what helps spread things like chickenpox and measles. These diseases were once life-threatening, like polio, which was cured thanks to vaccination, but they’re now quite manageable as vaccinations have helped minimize their impact. The less children vaccinated, however, and the more room these diseases have to grow.
There is currently an on-going debate on whether or not it should be mandatory that parents have their children vaccinated. The benefits of such a thing are clear. The children are going to be protected from a variety of illnesses that could otherwise be either difficult or expensive to treat, making it a sound decision. We all want what’s best for our children, and making sure they’re healthy is paramount. Thanks to decades of scientific research and study, we as a society know how beneficial vaccinations can be for our children and the community at large. You’d never raise a child without a high-quality thermometer and boxes of bandages in the medicine cabinet, and you’d never leave your child and their peers susceptible to diseases like chickenpox and MMR. Luckily, thanks to the power of vaccines, you never have to.

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Richard Daigle

I get my inspiration from nature and objects around me. I have a passion to colours, typography and skateboards.